See the birthplace of the Gold Rush

The view of the hills from a deck overlooking the Madrone Garden at the Eden Vale Inn, a luxury bed and breakfast in Placerville.

The view of the hills from a deck overlooking the Madrone Garden at the Eden Vale Inn, a luxury bed and breakfast in Placerville.

Photo: Matthew Lovette, Eden Vale Inn

Photo: Matthew Lovette, Eden Vale Inn

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The view of the hills from a deck overlooking the Madrone Garden at the Eden Vale Inn, a luxury bed and breakfast in Placerville.

The view of the hills from a deck overlooking the Madrone Garden at the Eden Vale Inn, a luxury bed and breakfast in Placerville.

Photo: Matthew Lovette, Eden Vale Inn

See the birthplace of the Gold Rush

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On the fateful January day in 1848 when gold was discovered along the South Fork of the American River, it was James W. Marshall who first spied the gold flakes in the tailrace water of the sawmill he was building in partnership with John Sutter.

Despite attempts by Marshall and Sutter to keep the discovery quiet, word got out, and the news that large quantities of gold were being found at Sutter’s Mill set off a frenzy. Here was where the 1849 Gold Rush was born, in this stretch of the snowmelt-fed American River that runs past Coloma. By 1849, Coloma became a town with 10,000 people, with its own schoolhouse, general store and post office. Two years later, the gold gave out and most of the miners left.

Today, along this stretch of Highway 49 between Auburn and Placerville, it’s hard to believe the region was the booming center of one of the most significant events of California history. But Coloma’s historic buildings are protected as part of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, including the working blacksmith shop, the Papini and Price-Thomas homes, and cabins belonging to James Marshall and others.

The historic town of Coloma has only about 200 year-round residents, and the quiet, tree-lined streets make it easy to meander through the park and imagine how significant a change it was when the gold ran out.

Perhaps the best place to start your tour is at the full-size replica of Sutter’s sawmill. Rebuilt near the discovery site after the original was abandoned and torn down for lumber, the replica is home to sawmill demonstrations. Look into the water here, just in case there’s a little gold left.

For those who want to try their luck, recreational gold panning (with hands and pan only) is allowed in designated areas of the park across the river. Not a panning pro? You can take a lesson at the gold panning troughs, where you learn the proper method for swirling the dirt around. Just be sure to keep your eyes focused for those little glints of gold.

Exhibits in the Gold Discovery Museum include Indian and Gold Rush-era exhibits, with mining equipment, horse-drawn vehicles and household implements, as well as films about the gold discovery and early mining techniques. All show how drastically the discovery of those small gold flecks affected lives around the world.

The park has more than just history — it’s a great place for an outdoor excursion, as well. The Levee Trail and Gold Discovery Loop Trail are easy ways to see the park without too much exertion. But those looking for more exercise and great views should add a longer hike to their itinerary.

Find the Monument Trail near the Gold Discovery Museum to head by foot to the James Marshall Monument, which stands on a hilltop overlooking the town. The trail is short (about a half mile), but steep, and ends at the monument and grave where a statue of James Marshall points to his gold discovery site. This monument and the actual spot where he discovered gold are the two California Historical Landmarks in the park.

Hikers can turn around here, or continue on from the parking lot along the Monroe Ridge Trail, about a 3-mile walk to the North Beach picnic area, at the northern edge of the park. Even a half-mile up, with views down on the James Marshall Monument and Mount Murphy in the background, is worthwhile despite the heart-thumping hike. Farther up, at the top of Monroe Ridge, views encompass both the Coloma and Lotus valleys.

The trail ends at the Monroe Orchard. The family’s orchard allowed the Monroe family to eventually own most of Coloma by selling their abundance of fruit and produce to hungry miners in the region.

Throughout the park, pause among native California riparian oak woodlands, as well as the Chinese Tree of Heaven, black locust, Texas mesquite, Southern pecan, Osage orange, persimmon and other trees planted by homesick miners as reminders of their former dwellings. Along with Coloma’s historic buildings, they stand as a silent reminder of the Gold Rush-era boomtown.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, 310 Back St.; Coloma. (530) 622-3470; www.parks.ca.gov. Day use fee: $8 per car. Living History Day is the second Saturday of each month, where historical re-enactors dressed in period attire demonstrate aspects of pioneer life during the gold rush. Gold panning lessons: $7 per person.

Cafe Mahjaic & Lotus Inn, 1006 Lotus Road; Lotus. (530) 622-9587; www.cafemahjaic.com. Stick around for supper; dinners at Cafe Mahjaic feature dishes such as free-range chicken roasted with shallots, bacon, and crimini mushrooms. Stay overnight at the Lotus Inn, which has an apartment with a kitchen and two small cottages. Rates start at $109.